combat

[ verb kuhm-bat, kom-bat, kuhm-; noun kom-bat, kuhm- ]

verb (used with object)

, com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

1. to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously:

   to combat crime.

   Synonyms: contest, struggle

verb (used without object)

, com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

1. to battle; contend:

   to combat with disease.

   Synonyms: contest, struggle

noun

1. Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
2. a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.

combat

noun

1. a fight, conflict, or struggle
2. 1. an action fought between two military forces
   2. ( as modifier )

      a combat jacket

3. single combat
   a fight between two individuals; duel
4. close combat or hand-to-hand combat
   fighting at close quarters

verb

1. tr to fight or defy
2. intr; often foll by with or against to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with)

   to combat against disease

Derived Forms

• comˈbatable, adjective
• comˈbater, noun

Other Words From

• com·bata·ble adjective
• inter·combat noun
• pre·combat noun verb precombated precombating or (especially British) precombatted precombatting
• self-com·bating adjective
• uncom·bata·ble adjective
• uncom·bated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combat¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French combat (noun), combattre (verb), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere “to strike, beat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of combat¹

C16: from French, from Old French combattre, from Vulgar Latin combattere (unattested), from Latin com- with + battuere to beat, hit

Synonym Study

See fight

Related Words

• cope
• fight
• oppose
• repel
• resist
• withstand